Chapter 240: Forming an Intent

Roy was enraged. For him, the flames burning his very flesh were a nightmare. But he couldn't stop it, he was full of hatred. Contrary to what he has been telling Ned. He couldn't stop, not until he got what he wanted. And that was Ned. And he has been showing it to Ned with a plan in mind. 

"What are you doing?" Ned said, demanding an answer after canceling Overclock. He stayed near the door's chamber. He doesn't want to fight. Not that he couldn't, but if he wanted to, it would be the end of either the two of them. 

Judging from Roy's Mana Leak, if Ned would compare him to someone else, he would be at the same level as Twali. But if Roy was just starting, then he could be powerful. 

From what Ned had been seeing, he could dodge Roy's blade waves with Overclocking on. But he couldn't use Overclock for a longer period. The only way for him to prolong the use of Overclocking was when he was sure that the fight would have a conclusion. And that was death. 

"What am I doing?" Roy responded with a fiery gust oozing his body. 

He raised his blade and shot a volley of fire. Hitting the walls behind Ned. Chunks of rocks coated with dust fell from above the mud ceiling. 

Ned had to Boost in order the evade those attacks then cancel Overclock afterward. 

To even the fight, Ned had no other choice but to use everything he got. He had decided. His display was red in combat, digits appeared trying to assimilate Roy's weaknesses, perhaps he was Cotilis now, the fiery beast that has forgotten his human memory. Ned was at full capacity, after he was captured turned ally of the Hive, he never got to use his spells. And now would be the time. His energy at above minimum, enough for him to move for hours. And if everything went bad, he'll force himself to use Overclock until help arrives.

Yes, Ned was sure he couldn't defeat the blazing Roy. Not with his current state. Perhaps—

"Intent, he muttered. "Maybe, if I could focus all my emotions. Perhaps, I could create an Intent." 

With a thought, Ned flicked his wrist and the broken Butterfly appeared. 

Although half-broken, Ned still relied on the broken Butterfly. His master's swords materials were unknown that even it was broken, it could block an attack physically and magically. 

Unsatisfied with the result, Roy let out a cry that shook the chamber. He then dashed, leaving footprints of fire in his steps. 

"You think I would let a child like you leave the Hive?" He cried and slashed his blade in which Ned humbly obliged by blocking with the Butterfly. 

Both blades trembled on their hands. Ned frowned as the heat kept on surging from Roy. It was as if the fire were locked on to Ned that wherever he went, it would follow. 

This is not good, he thought. And jumped backward. And ran to his side, trying to buy time. 

The training chamber was wide enough that Ned would take five to eight minutes if he wanted to run the whole gloomy chamber. Which gave Ned a lot of space. And gave Roy a lot of space as an advantage since he can command his fire to shoot out his blades in different directions. 

Ned was utterly confused as to why Roy was attacking him. Yes, it was because of his master, but why? I thought he didn't recognize Master Will. And, Overlord of Greed? What is the damnation is that. All these were in Ned's mind as he ran around the chamber trying to shake off Roy, perhaps wear him off. But it seemed that his stamina was unaccountable. 

Ned reached the narrow stream, he skidded the rocks over it and proceed to the other side. Water splattered under his boots. 

Behind him, Roy ran like a wildfire as the stream that he passed sizzled from the fire. 

It's fire against fire then. 

Ned spun and faced Roy, he bent with the broken Butterfly gripped on his hand. His mana flowed from his veins up to his hands, with a complex gesture of his fingers, he conjured a spell of the highest level. 

Egnious. 

With Egnious, Ned could control how much mana he could inject into the spell. The more his proficiency rose while using the Egnious, the more mana he could inject. The more mana he could inject, the more the Egnious became destructive. 

The air around Ned whistled as the ball of fiery fire shot out toward Roy. 

"So," Roy said. "Decided to fight back." 

To counter the ball of fire, he conjured his spell. 

A fireball of Tier 2 level. The strength of one's spell depends on the conjurer. A two fireball of Tier 2 level would be different from each person. And since Roy's element was of the fire, Ned could safely assume that his spells were destructive with mastery over it.

Ned used a sufficient amount of mana to the spell Egnious. His mana went 4, 000 from the pure form of a single spell.

The result. 

Roy didn't expect it.

The entire chamber cracked upon the initial contact of Egnious and fireball.

Ned knew that his fireball wasn't enough against Roy's spell. Ned assumed by the standards of this world, that his fireball of level two would be the same as the fireball of Tier 2. But much stronger with pure mana built into it. But they were not enough against the veteran Roy.

Fumes and black smoke left the initial contact.

Upon fading, after both spells concluded, Roy was thrown near at the double door. His head bore the wall, horns were diffusing of fire. 

"Just, tell me," Ned said. "What have my Master done to you?!" Ned couldn't control his voice, his temper, and focus. If it was his master that he was talking about, he just lost control. 

Even though, Ned could feel his left arm were contracting muscles. It spasmed uncontrollably. If even, he injected more mana into the spell, his arm could be torn to pieces. It's like an apprentice mage forced to use a fireball of the highest tier. Which was inappropriate, and devastating for the newbie mage. 

Ned could only shake the pain as he saw Roy pulled himself up. His blade lit red like a lava drying. 

Ned assumed the stance he was familiar with. The Vanishing Stance with a Butterfly he held on his right. He focused, trying to confront the emotions that were swelling inside him.

"He killed thousands of innocent people." 

Those words struck Ned. 

"It couldn't be."

"Master, no... "

Unbeknownst to Ned. The broken Butterfly he held lit fairly green, and it was as if his mana and energy were combined trying to repair the Butterfly. The half-broken Butterfly was forming lights at its surface like water flowing in a stream. The light then coiled the remains of the Butterfly starring from the hilt, starting from his hand. 

Ned's Butterfly was like Roy's Fireblade, only in green. 

Roy smiled.